Multiple meteor sightings provide October surprise

This NASA photo shows the outline of a fireball as seen from space; the same meteor spotted in Tennessee Tuesday morning.

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -

Recent booms and flashing lights across the Tennessee Valley have some people wondering what all the ruckus in the sky is.

According to NASA, it's the perfect time of the year for scattered meteor showers.

A fireball was spotted across the sky in Jackson, Tennessee, Tuesday morning; it could be seen from Kentucky, Alabama and even Louisiana, according to Bill Cooke with NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office.

A fireball, also a meteor, is given a separate name because of its brightness. In order to be classified as a fireball, the meteor must be brighter than the planet Venus.

Cooke said this fireball was brighter than the moon.

The fireball was officially clocked at 6:11 a.m. local time, with over 60 eyewitness accounts of the sighting across the South.

That wasn't the only report of a meteor in the sky on Tuesday. Cooke confirmed Tuesday night that another meteor was spotted over several counties in North Alabama.

Traveling down to the Earth at over 33,000 miles per hour, Cooke said the booms many people reported hearing where that of the meteor breaking the Earth's sound barrier – over 30 miles above ground.

However, these are not unlikely events. Meteors are occasionally spotted around this time every year. But these meteors appear more visible, even during daylight.

The reason for that? Cooke said it's possible that Jupiter is concentrating the meteors into a group, thus making them more visible from the ground.

Three adult males and one juvenile were arrested in Limestone County on Thursday after a four-hour manhunt and charged with multiple counts stemming from a string of vehicle thefts.

A ground search ensued that lasted about four hours and covered approximately six miles, ending a few hundred yards east of Hays Mill Road where the suspects were caught in a hunting stand/shoot house.

A ground search ensued that lasted about four hours and covered approximately six miles, ending a few hundred yards east of Hays Mill Road where the suspects were caught in a hunting stand/shoot house.

A nonstop route to Orlando is coming soon to Huntsville International Airport. Silver Airways, an airline based out of Fort Lauderdale, will start the new route on May 23, 2018. The airline made the announcement on Tuesday. Silver plans to fly its new ATR-600 aircraft to complete the 600 mile trip. The ATR-600 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that can seat up to 70 people on some models. Silver Airways says its model will feature leather seating, increased leg room and sp...

A nonstop route to Orlando is coming soon to Huntsville International Airport. Silver Airways, an airline based out of Fort Lauderdale, will start the new route on May 23, 2018. The airline made the announcement on Tuesday. Silver plans to fly its new ATR-600 aircraft to complete the 600 mile trip. The ATR-600 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that can seat up to 70 people on some models. Silver Airways says its model will feature leather seating, increased leg room and sp...